Sporting News’ official 2013 Major League Baseball mock draft through the top 10 picks. The draft will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The first two rounds will be broadcast on MLB Network:

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1. Houston Astros: Colin Moran, 3B, North Carolina

The Astros passed on Stanford right-hander Mark Appel last season, and it looks as though they will again this year. Last year's decision to take high school shortstop Carlos Correa over Appel looked to be a cost-saving move; picking Moran this year appears to be a similar decision.

Some scouts don’t believe Moran has superstar potential, but he is an advanced college hitter (.357, 13 home runs, 1.064 OPS in 60 games before Monday) and is close to major league-ready. The consensus is that the Astros, who have had their scouts and executives hunkered down in Houston for the past week, won’t decide on a pick until draft day. Given their recent fiscal ways, this pick makes sense.

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2. Chicago Cubs: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

The chatter is that the Cubs are split on Appel and Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray, but Monday’s news that Gray tested positive for the stimulant Adderall during pre-draft drug testing could swing the decision toward Appel ever so slightly.

This is still a win-win pick for the Cubs as both pitchers are seen as potential front-liners and close to being ready for the majors. Appel was drafted No. 8 last season because of cost concerns, so he returned to Stanford and his stock went up. He loses negotiating leverage by not being able to return to college this time, but he can still go to Chicago in a close call.

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3. Colorado Rockies: Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma

The positive test has become a red flag, but the Rockies can use it to gain negotiating leverage. Most people don’t believe the test will affect Gray's stock, but the Rockies don’t have to tell him that when they sit across from each other and talk money.

The Rockies are rumored to want a hitter, but they need pitching and they need it in a hurry. Outside of Appel, Gray is the best option here. With his high-90s fastball and tight slider, he could be a full-time big league starter by 2015. If Colorado does pass on Gray, the Adderall issue can serve as a built-in reason.

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4. Minnesota Twins: Kris Bryant, 3B/OF, San Diego

If the Rockies pass on Bryant at No. 3, he'll go fourth to the Twins. Bryant hit 31 home runs this season, but much of his damage came against overmatched college pitching.

At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he projects as a major power hitter at the pro level but isn't as polished a hitter as Moran, who faced much better competition.

If Bryant gets past Minnesota, he won’t slip beyond the sixth pick.

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5. Cleveland Indians: Kohl Stewart, RHP, St. Pius X (Houston)

Stewart is the top high school arm in the draft, but he also has a scholarship to play quarterback at Texas A&M. If he falls out of the top five, he might have signability issues. There is a better chance Stewart bypasses football if Cleveland—which is big on building its pitching depth—takes him at No. 5, but it might take all of the Indians' allotted bonus money, $4.5 million, to net him.

Stewart is the biggest gamble among top-five prospects. If the Indians decide taking him is too risky, they could draft Georgia high school outfielder Clint Frazier, whom they like. General manager Chris Antonetti has already met with Frazier.

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6. Miami Marlins: Austin Meadows, OF, Grayson (Ga.)

Meadows has multiple tools and could play center field in the majors. He dominated at the high school level this year (.535 average and .633 on-base percentage, 17 stolen bases).

The Marlins have a couple of options here, including pitcher Braden Shipley, but reports say Meadows impressed the Marlins mightily at his latest workout and that might be enough to convince them to pass on a pitcher. There is always the possibility of a surprise pick here, as the Marlins’ recent drafts have been puzzling.

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7. Boston Red Sox: Clint Frazier, OF, Loganville (Ga.)

Meadows is the better player and ranks higher on most draft boards than Frazier, but the Red Sox like Frazier’s power, as do a lot of teams. He may be the best all-around position player. Boston can go several different ways with this pick.

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8. Kansas City Royals: Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas

The Royals will take a college arm here if there is one available, and Stanek seems the likeliest to drop down to them. He posted a 1.40 ERA this season and has the secondary pitches to make a slight drop in fastball velocity less of a concern.

If Stanek is taken any higher, say, to the Red Sox, the Royals could go with California prep pitcher Phil Beckford (Oaks Christian in Westlake Village.), who struck out 17 batters Saturday with several scouts in attendance.

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9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Reese McGuire, C, Kentwood (Wash.)

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington flew to Washington twice to scout McGuire, and their compensation pick for not signing Appel last year might go to the best catcher on the board. The Pirates see McGuire as a long-term solution behind the plate. He already a standout defensive player, and while his bat has some catching up to do, he still is seen as better than the two catchers the Pirates drafted in the first 10 rounds last year.

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10. Toronto Blue Jays: Braden Shipley, RHP, Nevada

The Blue Jays definitely want pitching if it is available, but one major league scout told Sporting News they “don’t love anyone” at this spot. If Shipley falls this far—he could be taken as high as sixth depending on how the board plays out—the Jays would likely take him, but they won’t bank on him getting this far. If Shipley isn’t available at 10, McGuire is a possibility, as is Lakewood (Calif.) SS J.P. Crawford and New Mexico 1B/3B D.J. Peterson.